IT Correspondent
Guwahati, July 2:

Ahead of Eid al-Adha (scheduled for  20, 21 July), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India appeals to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for preventing the sacrifices of thousands of cows, buffalos, camels, goats, chickens, etc during the religious festival across Bharat. The animal’s rights forum argues that the section 28 of the prevention of cruelty to animals act of 1960 that allows any animal to be killed in any manner for religious purposes, should be scrapped.
PETA India had recently submitted its recommendations (https://www.petaindia.com/media/peta-india-urges-anti-speciesist-theme-in-prevention-of-cruelty-to-animals-act-revision/) to the animal welfare board following the Centre’s initiative to amend the particular act asking to revise the particular act arguing replace the pronoun ‘it’ with ‘he or she’ while referring to animals as a first step towards recognizing them as living beings and not objects.
It strongly argues that the exemption given for animal sacrifice goes against the very purpose of the act, as it causes unnecessary pain and suffering to the animals and that should be outdated in a modern society. Mentioning about many States already banning animal sacrifices, the forum emphasized on a comprehensive prohibition over the activities throughout the country.
Mentionable is that the States of Gujarat, Kerala, Puducherry and Rajasthan have already formulated laws to prohibit the religious sacrifice of any animal in the temple or its precinct. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and  Karnataka prohibit it in any place of public worship or any congregation or procession connected with religious functions on a public street.
“Just as human sacrifice is now treated as murder, at a time when India is embarking on space missions, the archaic practice of animal sacrifice should be treated as punishable cruelty,”  stated PETA India chief executive officer Dr Manilal Valliyate adding that lately many people start engaging in sacrifices by distributing wealth, clothes, fruits, etc (without harming animals).
With its clear motto that ‘animals are not ours to abuse in any way’, PETA India also sent a series of letters to the State (also union territories) police chiefs urging them to take precautionary measures to stop the illegal transportation and killing of animals in the lead-up to Eid al-Adha, where the animals are beheaded, twisted and slitted throats to die while they remain in full conscious mode.

IT News
Imphal, July 1:

State government of Manipur is all set to use the Sumang Leela medium of mass media (a traditional Manipuri media) to spread awareness on Covid-19 pandemic across the state.
Rehearsal of the Shumang Leela play based on Covid-19 pandemic titled “Keidoubagi Kidoino” is going on at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen, Palace Compound. The play is all set to premiere on the 5th July 2021.The duration of the play is about one and a half hour, a DIPR report said.
Padmashri Awardee and Chairman Academic Sub-Committee Manipur State Shumang Leela Council (MSSLC) Wareppa Naba is the consultant of the play. The play is directed by Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee Sh Hemanta. While Ranjit Ningthouja scripted the shumaang leela play “Keidoubagi Kidoino.”
Director IPR Balkrishna Heisnam and Deputy Director IPR Lairenlakpam Ashokumar attended the rehearsal session of the play.
The play is totally funded and organised by the Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Manipur.

IT News
Imphal, June 28:

The world is facing an unprecedented challenge with communities and economies everywhere affected by the growing COVID-19 pandemic. Along with the health-related issues, there has been massive impact on livelihoods, esp those who are self-employed or daily wage earners. Manipur also has some vulnerable groups whose livelihood opportunities has been affected since the 1st wave. Various organisations & individuals have come forward to help the most vulnerable of the lot.
In one such effort, Rajesh Soraisham, a resident of Khurai, Imphal East and an Alumni of Rutgers Business School, New Jersey, USA initiated a fund-raising campaign to help support the vulnerable and underprivileged Manipuri people affected during this unprecedented Covid crisis. Today, he along with his supporters & donors from India and abroad donated a total sum of 1.5 Lakh to 3 organisations (50,000 each) – the All Manipur Kidney Transplant Patients Welfare Association (AMKTPWA), All Manipur Rickshaw Drivers & Pullers Welfare Association (AMRDPWA) and All Manipur Cine Equipment & Handlers Association (AMCEHA) who have been struggling to make ends meet during this Second Covid-19 wave.
A small gathering, following SOP guidelines, was held today at the residence of Laishram Inunganba, Treasurer, AMKTPWA, Wangkhei Ningthem Pukhri Mapan where cheques were distributed to the representatives of the three organisations. The gathering was facilitated by Mami Thawan Foundation.
Rajesh Soraisham thanked all the donors who responded with generosity and solidarity to his appeals, thereby allowing him to support vulnerable groups and communities.
Representatives of the 3 organisations thanked, wholeheartedly, Rajesh Soraisham and the donors, Mami Thawan Foundation for putting the event together and further appealed other organisations, individuals and even the govt to support them during this difficult time.
As the pandemic crisis continues, if any individuals/organisation wants to support other vulnerable communities, they can contribute to the crowdfunding campaign at https://www.ketto.org/fundraiser/covid-19-relief-fund-for-manipur-india or can directly get in touch with the organisations supporting vulnerable populations. Supporters can also connect with Mami Thawan Foundation to help facilitate the same.

IT News
Imphal, June 25:

With a motive to push up the vaccination drive, the district administration of the Imphal East has utilised block development officers to submit reports for boosting the vaccination drive being taken up across the nation.
As per a notification issued by the officer-in-charge, District Vaccination team, Pooja Elangbam, for today the 25th of June, a total of 1200 people have been targeted for vaccination at assembly constituencies of Imphal East district. 200 people are being targeted at Khundrakpam Assembly Constituency, Khurai Assembly Constituency, Kshetrigao Assembly constituency, and Thongju Assembly Constituency. As per the report submitted by the BDO 150 persons have been targeted for the Keirao Assembly constituency while 250 people are started vaccination at the Andro Assembly constituency.
The district team leader assigned 1 Medical Officer and 1 from the district administration side not below the rank of SDC to take stock of the situation.